Sharps disposal container with locking cover

ABSTRACT

A portable medical sharps disposal device and methods are disclosed including a container having an opening for receiving items including medical sharps for disposal. A reversible cap or lid covers the opening of the container in two different orientations, and locks with the container for disposal. The cap or lid may be provided as having a one side for use in an unlocked orientation, with the cap or lid having another side for use in a locked or sealed orientation. Various embodiments are disclosed in which the cover may be flipped over, rotated, or slid with respect to the opening of the container to facilitate the respective unlocked or locked orientations. The device may alternatively be provided with an indicator for showing when the cover is in the unlocked orientation or when the cover is in the locked.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/887,065, filed on Jan. 29, 2007 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to portable medical sharps disposal containers having detachably interconnected locking covers, and more particularly to reversible and/or rotatable cap locking receptacles for medical sharps disposal and containers that are inexpensive and simple to manufacture.

2. Description of the Related Art

A number of medical waste disposal receptacles with locking means have been provided. It is known to destroy used needle/syringes, e.g. by severing and separating the syringe barrel from its needle, and containing medical waste in a container for disposal, preventing harmful accidental needle sticks. U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,150 to Otto et al. discloses a disposable container for medical trash including a lid that can be temporarily closed or permanently sealed closed for disposal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,613 to Baudry et al. show a medical waste box with a sliding closure that can be permanently locked closed. U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,313 to Rigling provides a medical waste container which has a two position hinged door that can be temporarily closed or permanently locked depending on the degree of force applied. Also child safety medicine containers are known, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,450 to Buono which discloses a cap for a container that is reversible. In one position, the cap snaps on the container and is held in a child proof manner. However such is not described, appropriate for locking or known for medical sharps disposal purposes. If the Buono cap is reversed, the cap is held on the bottle in a more temporary manner as opposed to use in the child proof manner; neither of which provide for locking or sealing engagement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved container and cap arrangement for use as locking receptacles for medical sharps disposal, which avoids the disadvantages of prior apparatus while affording additional structural and operating advantages.

To this end, a reversible cap or rotatable cap/cover facilitates locking receptacles for medical sharps disposal. The devices and methods are provide a container having an opening for receiving items including medical sharps for disposal. A reversible cap or lid covers the opening of the container in two different orientations, and locks with the container for disposal. The cap or lid may be provided as having a one side for use in an unlocked orientation, with the cap or lid having another side for use in a locked or sealed orientation.

Additional features of the invention include the container and cover or cap being portable, and of simple, economical construction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating a sharp being disposed into the present embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present embodiment featuring a lid assembly engaging in a locked position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present embodiment featuring a lid assembly engaging in a unlocked position;

FIG. 5 illustrates the reversible sides of the lid assembly;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment featuring a slide lid;

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment featuring a rotating lid; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment featuring an indicator.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the inventions, the accompanying figures, and the descriptions illustrate embodiments thereof, from which the inventions, structure, construction and operation, and many related advantages may be readily understood and appreciated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the described embodiments set forth in the best modes contemplated for carrying out the invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Any and all such modifications, equivalents, and alternatives are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Referring to Drawings Sheets, there are illustrated Medical Sharps Disposal Container embodiments which may be of the type for Diabetes Sharps Disposal Container designed for people that use syringes and sharps, hence producing bio-hazardous waste.

The container 10 of the present preferred embodiment, and as shown in FIGS. 1-5, is rectangular with a specially designed lid 12 with two sides. Side A 14 is a push closure that can be opened and closed whenever the person needs to add to the container. Side B 16 is a permanent closure with hook engagements. Once the container 10 is full the user will turn the cap 12 over and seal it. This cap 12 can not come off, even with considerable force. The designed lid 12 with the described two sides reversing (e.g., turning over) facilitates the lid 12 from Side A 14 to Side B 16, or more generally a rotating the lid 12 180° with a locking engagement with the container 10 in one orientation. In the preferred embodiments, each of the container 10 and cap 12 structures is preferably formed of a suitable plastic or metal, e.g., using a suitable die cut or mold, although it will be appreciated that other materials and methods of manufacture could be employed.

In the present described embodiments the container 10 is high impact polystyrene and injection molded. The device 18 is provided as being puncture-resistant. The locking prong piece is sonic welded to the lid 12. The insert 20 under the prongs 24 is polyethylene foam and is die cut. As illustrated, alternate embodiments may be employed to accomplish different types of locking mechanisms on a “tube type” container 10 by way of “closing motions” with the orientation of the top cover 12. To this end, the cap 12 features both a permanent locking mechanism 16 and temporary seal 14 for initial delivery. Thereafter the user disposes the device 18 in accordance with state and local regulations.

The device 18 is provided as a portable medical sharps disposal device including a container 10 having an opening for receiving items including medical sharps for disposal. The reversible cap or lid 12 covers the opening of the container 10 in two different orientations, and locks with the container 10 for disposal. The cap or lid 12 may be provided as having a one side 14 for use in an unlocked orientation, with the cap or lid 12 having another side 16 for use in a locked or sealed orientation. Various embodiments are disclosed in which the cover 12 may be flipped over, rotated, or slid with respect to the opening of the container 10 to facilitate the respective unlocked 14 or locked 16 orientations as seen in FIG. 6A and 6B.

The embodiment of FIG. 6A features a slide lid 30. The slide lid 30 slides onto the container 10 with one side for a locked position and one side for an unlocked position.

The embodiment of FIG. 6B features a rotating lid 32. The rotating lid 32 rotates onto the container 10. A locked position can be obtained through over-rotating the rotating lid 12 which triggers a lock.

The device 18 may alternatively be provided with an indicator 38 for showing when the cover 12 is in the unlocked 16 orientation or when the cover 12 is in the locked 16 position as shown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the device 18 includes a breakaway slot 36 and a push tab secure latch 34. During normal use, the lid 12 opens and closes normally via a simple friction fit. After filling the device 18, the user can slide tab 34 forward which engages the underside of lid 12. The tab 34 has a breakaway slot molded into itself, so once the tab 34 is engaged the tab 34 breaks off. The indicator 38 alerts the user that the lid 12 is fully engaged.

For the purpose of illustration with reference to the drawings sheets hereto, the device 18 in accordance with the present inventions may be used as follows:

-   STEP 1. The “unlocked” arrows should be pointing down. You should     see the prongs 24 facing you when the lid 12 is in place. Remove the     lid 12 from the container 10. -   STEP 2. Add used sharps or waste to the container 10. -   STEP 3. If the container 10 is full, turn the lid 12 over. The     “locked” arrows and prongs 24 should now be facing down. -   STEP 4. The container 10 is now locked. The unit 18 can no longer be     opened. It is now leak proof and ready to be disposed of according     to state and local regulations.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been provided an improved disposal device of simple and economical construction. While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art. 

1. A portable medical sharps disposal device, comprising: a container having an opening for receiving items including medical sharps for disposal; and a cover having a first unlocked orientation with respect to the opening of the container for initial delivery; and said cover having a second locked orientation with respect to the opening such that the cover locks with the container.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the cover is reversible or rotatable with respect to the opening of the container as between the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the cover comprises a first side for use with the first unlocked orientation and the cover comprises a second side for use with the second locked orientation.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the cover may be flipped over with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the cover may be rotated about an axis with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the cover may be slid with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation.
 7. The device of claim 1 comprising an indicator for showing when the cover is in the first unlocked orientation and when the cover is in the second locked orientation.
 8. A portable medical sharps disposal device, comprising: a container having an opening for receiving items including medical sharps for disposal; and a reversible cap or lid which covers the opening of the container in two different orientations and locks with said container.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein the cap or lid comprises a first side for use with a first unlocked orientation and the cap or lid comprises a second side for use with a second locked orientation.
 10. A portable medical sharps disposal method, comprising: providing a container having an opening for receiving items including medical sharps for disposal; releasably engaging a cover in a first unlocked orientation with respect to the opening of the container for initial delivery; and lockingly engaging the cover in a second locked orientation with respect to the opening such that the cover locks with the container.
 11. The device of claim 10 wherein the cover may be flipped over with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation.
 12. The device of claim 10 wherein the cover may be rotated about an axis with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation.
 13. The device of claim 10 wherein the cover may be slid with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation.
 14. The device of claim 10 comprising an indicator for showing when the cover is in the first unlocked orientation and when the cover is in the second locked orientation.
 15. A portable medical sharps disposal device, comprising: a container having an opening for receiving items including medical sharps for disposal; and a cover having a first side for use with the first unlocked orientation; and said cover having a second side for use with the second locked orientation there upon the cover cannot be removed requiring disposal of the device.
 16. The device of claim 15 wherein the cover may be flipped over with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation.
 17. The device of claim 15 wherein the cover may be rotated about an axis with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation.
 18. The device of claim 15 wherein the cover may be slid with respect to the opening of the container to provide respectively the first unlocked orientation and the second locked orientation.
 19. The device of claim 15 comprising an indicator for showing when the cover is in the first unlocked orientation and when the cover is in the second locked orientation. 